Buckle



June 18, 1929. WIETHQARN 1,717,824

BUCKLE Filed May 18, 1927 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,717,824 PATENT OFFICE.

FRED W'IETHORN, OFOINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERKINS-CAMPBELLCOMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BUCKLE.

Application filed May 18,

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectiveconstruction for buckles for belts, straps and the like, whereby thebelt or strap may be held in any adjusted position without the use ofholes.

Usually in buckles of this description, a serrated or smooth edged camplate or clamping member is provided, but when in use the belt is veryapt to wear thin and smooth, and the clamping member fails to hold inthe adjusted position, allowing the belt or strap to slip under thepressure. It is to remedy this defect in earlier constructions that myinvention is particularly directed.

Another object is to provide a construc tion in which the operatingmember by which the clamp is applied may lie flat with the surface ofthe belt or strap.

These improvements are accomplished by that certain novel constructionand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly pointed outand claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a rear view of the buckle as attached to abelt.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the buckle.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the buckle with the operating bail throwninto full releasing position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the buckle plate with the camplate and bail removed.

Figure 6 is a plan of the blank from which the clamping cam plate isformed.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cam plate.

Figure 8 is a section perspective taken centrally of the cam plate.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the front plate or body member of thebuckle which is bent up at the sides to form side walls 2 and topflanges 33 to serve as a guide for the belt or strap. The inner ends ofthese flanges 33 are curved over to form a seat t4 for the pintle pin 5upon which the operating parts are mounted.

Upon the pintle 5 is pivotally mounted the cam clamping plate 6 formedfrom the blank 7 which is stamped out of a metal sheet with holes 88 andslots 99 and notches 1010. The ends of the plate are turned up to formears 12-12 through which the pintle 5 is passed, and the body of theplate is curved 1927. Serial No. 192,377.

lengthwise on the line A, Figure 6 to form an engaging surface 13 forthe belt and two outer wings let-J 1 with an inner wing 15, this innerwing being curved to a greater extent than the outer portions, so thatthe contacting edge of 15 will be considerably lower than the edges ofthe parts 1414. Also pivotally mounted on the pintle 5 inside the pivotsof the cam plate is the bail 16. The buckle is attached to the belt 17by a loop 18 over the bail and held by snap buttons 19.

The free end of the belt 20 is passed underneath the cam plate with thebail raised or thrown over against the flanges 33, which elevates thecam plate and gives tree passage for the free end of the belt. The camplate is then turned down by rotation of the bail to a rearwardposition, the bail contacting .with the parts 1 1, 14:, to actuate thecam plate.

As shown in Figure 3, there are three engaging positions of the camplate with the belt. It the belt is thick the middle portion 13 firstengages the belt and clamps it to the plate 1, and as long as theengaging edge of part 13 is to the rear of the pivotal center 5 of thecam plate, the belt will be held from slipping by this engagement.Should a thinner belt be used, the central portion 15 will then engageand clamp the belt and the clamping power of part 13 will becomeinefi'ective.

Now as the belt wears smooth in use by pushing down the bail flat withthe belt suriace, which is permitted by reason of the slots 9, 9, theparts 14, 14; will then come into clamping contact with the belt. Thus,with thick or thin belts the buckle can be used, and any tendency toslip as the belt surface wears smooth in use is effectively prevented.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a buckle, a buckle plate, a rotatablecam element comprising a plate curved lengthwise, and provided with aplurality of notches to form a triple set of wings, one of said wingscurved to a different extent from the other wings, whereby engagingsurfaces will be provided at different distances from the longitudinalaxis of the cam, means for rotatably mounting the cam on the buckleplate and a bail pivotally mounted with said cam plate, and adapted tobear thereon to 10 edges to a beltto be retained againstthe undersurface of the plate in at least three distinct zones or lines, a bailalso secured to said pintle, said clamping member being pr0- Vided Withclearance for the mounting of said bail, whereby the bail engages theclamping member and actuates it, said bail being provided for attachmentof the opposite end of the belt from that which is to be clamped.

FRED H. \VIETHORN.

